Punch House is the ultimate gem of Pilsen. I came here for drinks before a show at Thalia Hall, and was instantly in love. The atmosphere is so relaxed - it's like hanging out in a friend's basement with a great saltwater fish tank and random nick nacks on the walls. It's no frills with random couches along the wall, some booths, and a decent-sized bar. There is also a smaller back room behind the revolving bookcase. The drink menu and unique cocktails are the reason that Punch House has such a strong following. The cocktails are expertly crafted for all different flavor profiles. I had the Gin Blossom punch, which was super fresh and not too strong. My brother tried both the 20th Century Cocktail and the Trading Company. The 20th Century was lighter with the gin, and the Trading Company was definitely darker and stronger, but he loved them both. Yes, it does get warm in here in the summer. The air conditioning does not necessarily reach the basement, so it relies on fans to circulate the air. I personally was not uncomfortable though, as I can't stand bars that blast the AC in the summer (the point of summer is to enjoy the warmth!). Whether you are catching a show at Thalia or just looking for a new, out-of-the-way bar to try, I highly recommend Punch House. You won't be disappointed! read more

Punch House - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am a big fan of Punch House! I love the concept of boozy punch. I also especially like when it is served in fun glass tea/punch cups. The cup is what really does it for me, and I'm not sure why. Punch House has a little bit of a retro feel. It could pass as the setting of a 70s skin flick but that's not a bad thing, it's a classy thing. There's a "Welcome to my basement lair" vibe going on. There's also a giant fish tank behind the bar that makes sitting at the bar a joy. Those fish are dope! I like that the tables for groups are comfortable. You feel like you have your own little space because it's a nice circular booth. I came once with the gals for my birthday and sat in a booth. Another time I came with the boy and sat at the bar. And a third time stopped in with some coworkers and sat on the couch by the shelves in the back. Each time I have ordered some kind of pitcher with the group. I lean more towards the gin based punches - I think the taste is superior to a dark liquor based punch. I tried one with Hennessy and didn't like it too much. Bathrooms are cool because walls are chalkboard and you can tag them. It's a bit of a trek for me to get here but it's worth. read more

Punch House - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was here briefly before heading upstairs for a reservation at Dusek's, but I have to say my limited experience didn't really make me want to come back. Most of it was service-related; the drink (I got one of the punches) was good, though nothing out of this world (you also get a pretty small glass of it). I joined a group of friends who arrived before me, and they told me we had a server at our table. She eventually came over, asked them about refills, and then just kind of looked at me. Not a "what would you like," or anything like that. I ordered my punch, and it took about 5 minutes to show up. After that, we needed to close out because we had to catch our reservation. When our server came by again we asked to close out she said sure, so we all started getting out our cards to pay, and after the third person handed her a card she just sort of threw the cards back on the table (maybe 'threw' is a strong word here, but she did set them down kind of huffily) and walked away. (I know splitting can be a hassle sometimes, but we all had punch, and they all are the same price, so it's not that complicated). My friend went over to the cash register and told her if it was easier he could just pay for all and we'd figure it out later. She then told him she was fine splitting them (though her attitude suggested otherwise). She brought the split checks over, and also brought one check with all the drinks, so we were a bit confused, but eventually just paid separately. (Mind you we had a friend come in about halfway through all of this, he went up to the bar, ordered a drink, and paid for it before we finished paying for ours). It wasn't a huge deal, but her attitude was kind of a turn-off for me, and the punch (at least the one I tried) wasn't out of this world. Kind of pricey for what you get, and oh, they automatically add a 20% gratuity on to your bill, so watch out. I'm all for giving servers their due, but a $2 tip on one small drink seems pretty high, especially when it's not my choice. read more

I hesitated to write a review for Punch House because I feel like it's a well-kept neighborhood secret and I want to keep it to myself because THEIR FONDUE, YA'LL. My husband and a few friends stopped in on a Tuesday night a little before 7, so we made it in time for happy hour. Their drinks, which are spectacular, were only $5. Our favorites were the Dusek's and the From Chile, With Love. But the FONDUE. It's $25 per pot, which is just the right amount for two people, and it comes with the most amazing assortment of cured meats, pretzels, and tempura veggies. I dream about that cheese; I could've eaten it with a spoon. We were maybe one of three parties who were downstairs, so maybe folks aren't aware of how sweet their happy hour deals are. I'd definitely recommend Punch House if you're looking for a casual night out with fantastic food, or if you just really love cheese. read more

I have been dying to come here since this place opened! Dying! But I live on the north side so getting my friends to go to Pilsen is an endeavor. But my friends are always willing on second Friday's for the gallery walks (Google that! Galleries stay late on second Friday's!). So we came down on a second Friday, walked through the galleries, and then were interested in hanging out more. So we walked over to Punch House from Halsted (not a bad walk!). It was around 10pm. The place was already hopping but we were able to snag a few seats at the end of the bar. If you come here just be warned there isn't a ton of seating. You enter Dusek's and then take the stairs down. It's a dark old school kind of vibe. Round booths on one side, lounging chairs near the front, and a long bar. There's a few other bar tables at the end but not many. Punch House is known for their punches, duh! But they have beers and what you need for a cocktail. But you gotta go for the punches. You can order by the glass, the carafe, and the bowl. Since we were a group of 3 we ordered the carafe of Pilsen Pisco Punch. I love Pisco cocktails ever since I spent a summer in Peru so I'm always excited to see it on the menu. Pisco is a colorless or amber-colored brandy made from grapes in Peru and Chile. I love it! The pomegranate juice gave the cocktail some sweetness and the cucumber-mint agua fresca made it feel refreshing. Overall I was definitely impressed and I definitely would go back! read more

I first came to Punch House on a Saturday night for a birthday party in November 2016. It was one in/one out because it was so packed given the time we got there. This was a little frustrating to the birthday girl but eventually, we all got downstairs. We had to wait for about 40min for a table to clear out until we could sit down. While we waited for the table, everyone ordered drinks at the bar. I LOVE the ambiance of this place. Definitely very hipster but the drinks are actually affordable. You can get a punch bowl, which is huge, for a lot more money if you're with a big group. It's worth the money with a crowd. Their individual drinks are all REALLY good and quality; the mixologists know what they're talking about. I've since been back many more times and I love how strong the drinks are and the type of people this place attracts. It's definitely one of my favorite bars in Chicago. read more

I've been in love with Punch House since the first time I stepped in about 3 years ago. I've come here for both dates and outings with friends, and it always seems to be a hit with everyone. Like mentioned in other reviews, this bar is in the basement of the building and has a hip vintage feel to it. I feel right at home at bars and restaurants with vintage atmospheres. A couple drinks here will have you feeling just right ; ) .I like that some of their cocktails change, so you really get a nice variety of cocktails to try. For awhile, there was this long island on the menu that was among one of the best I've had anywhere in the City. This long island was strong, but not harsh. After over 10 visits to Punch House, I've never had a bad experience with any of the other cocktails though. The bartenders always do a good job with mixing up the cocktails. I've had several of the appetizers, but the fondue is one of my favorites. The cheese sauce has a really sharp flavor, and has a good weight to it. Four of us shared the fondue before dinner upstairs at Duseks once, and it was an ideal amount for us. For 2 people, the fondue pot could probably be a light dinner. Another great option from the appetizer menu is the crab dip. Seafood lovers should definitely try the crab dip here. read more

The strawberries taste like strawberries. The snozzberries taste like snozzberries. The Space Juice for Jered tastes like a liquid salad. The Sanyal Punch tastes like liquid Indian food. ... more specifically curried chaat And the Chocolate Bar dessert with pretzel ice cream truffle, coke cream, roasted grapes, and bruleed house-made marshmallow tastes like everything your menstrual cycle has been craving for the last 20 years, but all rolled into one and shockingly perfect. Like whoa. Before Punch House, I would've never guessed you would find punch-y libations this good at a place that wasn't a frat house or baby shower. This love. This love is serious. Located in the basement of Pilsen's soon-to-be-open Thalia House space, also housing Dusek's on the first level, with Punch House in the basement. It looks like a a really kitschy 70s-era, bachelor basement mixed with a retro hipster bowling alley. It's dark. REALLY dark. Pulling out your phone to look at the drink menu will be 3000% necessary and you'll likely feel like grandpa having to do it the first time, but the drinks are pretty potent so after your first round, you likely like won't feel like anything but buzzed the next time you order. The punches are all on tap, so service is quick and you'll know you're getting the right mixture of ingredients thanks to the eco-friendly tap system here. The music, or at least on the night we went, was just my style -- kind of 80s new wave, kind of now-ish hipster. It was easy to casually groove to or ignore, as the DJ was tucked away in a dark corner and the volume level wasn't perfect to still be able to have a conversation over. Servers were friendly and fast and apparently at midnight they do a super fun thing where they feed the fish in their giant fish tank and people at the bar get food or drinks or weird prizes or something. I'm not entirely sure because like dum-dums, we left about 20-minutes shy of midnight. Regrets. I'm filled with them. But I'll be back. I have to now. I was the only one in my group to get punch here because I don't know why. One of my friends got a bottled beer (great selection) and the other two chose drinks off the 'Not- Punch' menu. I started with the Space Juice for Jered, because why wouldn't you? Based on name alone, I felt obligated. It is: Reposada Tequila, grapefruit, lime, aperol, black pepper, sparkling wine, and a fresh sage leaf. The first sip... VERY herb-y. It was like a garden in my mouth. I kind of wanted to chew it like a salad, but it wasn't thick and it went down too fast to really even spend too much time thinking about. Next drink: Sanyal Punch. It's curried pisco - that's right: CURRIED PISCO + Darjeeling (my favorite kind of tea), citrus juices, pineapple, and chili flakes. Like I said earlier it tasted like curried chaat. A whole savory and sweet masala blend that again, I felt the urge to chew. The first sip definitely took me by surprise, but you get comfortable with the flavors quickly and again, it goes down fast. I think that's a main theme with punch bowls. They sound sissy, but they go down fast, and can definitely sneak up and knock you on you on your ass. The menu is easy to overlook, especially with Dusek's doing what they do best upstairs in kitchen, but you're missing out if you don't partake at Punch House. They are not f*cking around with that chocolate bar. Ladies, you can't even imagine how magical that f*cking pretzel ice cream truffle is. And the 'coke cream'... I don't even know where that was in the dish, but it legit may actually have been coke. I don't know, but I'm def addicted now. You can't count on my coming back at least once a month to overcome any and all ovulation cravings in one fell swoop with this dish. read more

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This is not yo mama's Pilsen. It's not fancy fancy, but done up very intelligent style. Many telling details around the room give you the 2070's Steve McQueen lounge vibe. From the Maria's Riptide inspired vinyl booths, to the Back wall shelf filled with vintage store treasures. and even a cute statue of me! (yes, the fat Buddha looking thing) Dj in the corner rocking those AM radio favorites and the couch area perfect for swingers who like to shake and rattle and roll. The punch drinks are deadly amazing. I swore I walked in wearing pants under me trousers, but lo and behold when I came home I was butt naked underneath.0_o These panty dropper concoctions are available for sampling as they are poured from the taps, but do keep count as even that is enough to make you tipsy. Party sized punch bowls are available for those people who have pleasant odors and the ability to attract friends unlike myself who was served a single serving sized beverage appropriate to the number of people in my party of1;( Tho nevermind the lonelies as the bartenders were cute, cordial and inviting. The patrons seated next to me were open to sharing my space and even talked about the weather for 3 minutes before I was silent again in my loneliness. The bar menu has tasty offerings of which I did try the blue crab dip for one. Even this dish came with a friend... a fresh house made loaf of dipping bread, and they both together sang the song of tasty blue crab in my mouth. If seating and space permit I will return as it does get packed, and with a silver lining bonus thought is that parties of one are easier to squeeze onto the bar space. Bravo people of Punch House, bravo. read more

Punch House - I got a button!!! - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Punch House is one of my favorite places to chill out. Sure. ..it's a little hipstery, but the crowd is pretty diverse. The punches are sneeky & the cocktails well crafted. Eye candy can be hit or miss. .. The dj's play everything from old school/underground hip hop to trance. Not a fan of the limited food menu or the fancy desserts. Never had a poor service experience. read more

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I love Punch House so much that if you don't love it I'll punch you in the butt. Ok maybe not, but this basement cocktail lair is great. Between two visits my friends and I have sipped our way through most of the drink menu with my current faves being the Dusek's Punch and the surprisingly milkless milk punch. I haven't tried the savory bar snacks yet but the desserts are delicious and interesting. Ginger cazuela cake is where it's at. The atmosphere is like a cool uncle's basement bar complete with wall mounted sailfish and aquarium. There's a side room behind a shelf for extra seating. Servers are friendly and the drinks are affordable. I'll be back for more cocktails and hopefully some crab dip. read more

Punch House - Sailfish - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Dare the dark stairs and head to the basement and claim your seats! Luckily we were able to snag a table for our group of 4, but quickly afterward, the last table and couch on our side of the basement filled up. There the drinks and snacks menu which makes Punch House the perfect place for pre-dinner, post-dinner or a hang-out-and-snack-and-drink kind of place. The punch drinks come per glass, carafe and bowl size. I shared a carafe of Planter's Punch--it was fruity and refreshing, very tasty. Probably about 5 servings. And while we're talking servings, the barware is so pretty, very 70's retro but great condition. Service was helpful and sweet. We really enjoyed our evening there. read more

The food was good !! I've been here before this was my second time .... Bartender service though, they need to work on your wording on how they talk to guest ! Telling a guest "I'm busy" is just plan rude ! I'm a black Woman and the energy I got from the bartenders was not welcoming ! A lot of assumptions and racism ! Very disappointed!! read more

Sexy is as sexy does, and sexy is the life at Punch House. The punches are as punchy as punch can be. I had a couple of the Dusek punches, which are primarily bourbon and dark ale, and they are delicious. But I repeat myself. They go down smooth and are dangerously boozy, which is everything punch should be. I also like the Allport in a Storm cocktail made by William Duncan. It's rye whiskey, Fernet Branca, maple, orange, angostura bitters, all coated in a Laphroig rinse, and it is both complex and simply delicious. I could consume this drink in vast quantities. The music had, as I recall, a certain Motown influence, but I must confess, my punch addled memory cannot recall with certainty. My fellow noble bourbon boozers, I know you will forgive me this transgression. Rest assured, however, that it was cozy, chill, and sexy all at once. The crowd is quite friendly as well; it was quite crowded by the time we arrived after dinner at Dusek's, but one couple invited us to share the empty half of their circular booth. When they left we offered their half to another couple. A great time was had by all. I could see this as a weekly destination if I lived in the neighborhood, but as it is I'll still try to get down here as often as I can. You should too. read more

They have cocktails on drafts in addition to wine,liquor and beer behind the bar. When I got in it felt kind of cramped. By the end of the night it felt a lot more friendly. The bar above has ample beer on draft. There was a DJ spinning records. Good vibes going around. One of the women sitting next to me was a tourist from Seattle, get a good mix of locals here as well. The bar wasn't packed but close to full. Booths in addition to row at the bar. read more

Top notch I love the warm intimate atmosphere of this place. I had heard good things about this bar and it was not a disappointment. The drinks were amazing the bartenders were top of their game. Service was fast and excellent. But the drinks were the star of the show I loved the island drink it was so good. read more

Punch House - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went here for the first time Saturday night and I was excited to finally go. The food was great, music was good. However, the service was awful!!!! Me and friend went and we sat at the bar, our plans was to slip the check down the middle but unfortunately the server swiped my card with me not even viewing the check. When we told him we wanted to slip the check he waived us off with a disgust look on his face saying "I'm busy" instead of just saying. "Give me a second". He told one of the servers to come see what we want and gave even worse attitude. Told me she was not going to give me back my card unless I give her another. Then a manger come over "Tarren". And the look on her gave no cares. She said in a perfect world you would be able to view your check before hand, but in this case, I did not. King story long, I will never go back there again. The service is horrible read more

I think this is my first bar experience since I relocated to the midwest from California. I wasn't sure if I would like the bar scene in Chi-town... Punch House did give me a great experience because it was extremely chilax. The dress code here is pretty casual with a relaxing atmosphere. The bar is in the basement, so it can get a little stuffy if you stay there too long. I didn't order the drinks, so I don't know what I was drinking at all. I think the drinks were their speciality punches, which were really strong, but good. Be careful if you are lightweight cause these can definitelyi hit you suddenly if you drink too fast. There's not a lot of seating available, so you may need to stand for a while and be patient if you're here around prime time... which I think is around 12:00 in chi-town? Tip: It gets hot downstairs, so dress accordingly. read more

The ambiance of this place is killer. Who doesn't love sneaking into a basement of a restaurant for a drink? It has a small menu but it's pretty good punches. The service was fast and friendly highly recommend the pretzel. It was amazing! read more

Punch House - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had no idea this was a House of Punch when I came here. I know, I should trust the title. But it was actual punch. Served in punch glasses. And you can get a bowl of it. There were only two of us, so we just got the carafe, which was enough. We tried the Space Juice for Jered because I love a Paloma and it sounded like one. Plus, it just seems a little more healthy to be drinking grapefruit juice. It kicks in the metabolism, you know. At least it does in the morning, when not mixed with tequila. It was delicious and we drank it without feeling a thing. Until we stood up. It definitely did the trick. We also ate there. We both had the lamb sausage sandwich, which was the perfect amount of filling without over-stuffing us. It had a great, light, refreshing flavor. Mainly because I love a Mediterranean mouthful. The beef fat fries accompaniment added a yummy indulgence to an otherwise seemingly healthy night out. I normally only eat like ten fries because they bore me after a while, but I probably could have finished all of these. The atmosphere was cool too and I liked that it was in an almost secret basement spot. We came for record night, however, and I am not sure if there were records played at all. Maybe in the other room? We did not see a DJ set up and the music was good regardless, so we did not ask any questions. Record night or not, this was a good spot for a hip night out. read more

Had to try Punch House after dinner, and glad we did. It's an envious basement, the sort I wish I had: part supper club, part rec room, curvy banquets, a couple of couches, trophy fish and real fish, plus paneling. Anywhere else, it would be tacky. Here, it's awesome. Is it cos they serve punch on draft? Maybe. Sampled a classic gin punch and it was, as expected, amazing. I could see this place being deadly, the booze is that good. Not small but not a ton of seating either, so it might get packed, but on our Thursday night it was a just right way to end the evening. read more

I loved this new spot. I think it's interesting that the this (the downstairs bar) only has beer on tap, but the upstairs bar (at Dusek's) has beer on draft, however, I did think it was really cool that the cocktails are on tap at Punch House. We sat here while waiting for a table to open up for dinner and I thought the atmosphere was perfect for drinks. It also seemed in-line with the history of the building - sort of dark and interesting, speak-easy, like. I had to try a punch considering the name of the place...I had the space juice - really tasty, a bit sweet, but not overwhelmingly so (and the sage leaf really brought all the flavors together). The bartender was super nice and also let me try one of the other punches (which I didn't love, so I'm glad he let me). One small issue was that the woman's bathroom had two broken stalls, which was a bit annoying, but I did think the chalkboard walls were cute. This is definitely worth a visit - I'm not sure I'd head all the way here for just the bar, but the bar is very well worth a visit if you're nearby or having dinner upstairs. read more

This place is a "hidden gem" - sort of. It's tucked away in a basement so you won't find it unless you know about it. Either or, Punch House serves up fantastic drinks with lots of tequila (yeah, these drinks are strong which may or may not be good depending on the type of person you are). Space Juice? It's my go to. The Island Bird is not bad either. It's definitely a vibe in here. It's a good place to chill. It's very loungey. read more

I've often heard about the awesomeness of this cocktail bar located in the basement of the very good restaurant Duseks. I had a date a couple of months ago that was very receptive of the idea of coming here as she had been before. We decided to go on a Friday night which I assumed was one of their busier nights. I walked in and met up with her as she beat me there. I made sure I surveyed the place to see who was on the verge of leaving so I could get close to the table to take it over as the bar area was pretty packed. As I surveyed the area I got a good look at their classic, vintage decor. It really looks and feels like you're in a basement and I think thats awesome. There is a book/record shelf and a fish tank down here...wow! As I nodded my head to the awesome music and conversed with my date, I noticed a group of 4 getting up from a table and I immediately attacked. Our server whom I believe was named Kendra commended me for my hustle to grab that table. Looked at the menu and definitely liked what I saw. I wanted to get a punch bowl but she was afraid to over consume as she had to get up early in the am...funny as she downed 5 Titos vodka drinks. I had a couple of old fashioned cocktails and then went with a couple of Crillon Paris cocktails which includes Clyde Mays whiskey, lime juice, pomegranate juice, oat orgeat and heirloom apples. That drink was pretty damn good! Decent beer list here but didn't get any as the Crillon Paris cocktail had my full attention. We worked up quite the appetite from all the delicious cocktails so we got the wood roasted stuffed pretzel with beer mustard. I wound up coming back and they told me that we could not get the punch bowl with just 2 people, but we could get the carafe. We got the carafe of a rum based drink called the Zombie which was delicious. Not too sweet and not too strong...did the trick though. Once I saw how big the lunch bowl was, I understood why they reserve it for 4 people or more. I truly like this place as its a cool, unique joint that serves a great drink or few. Good for groups as well as a good date spot. read more

Great value, great execution onto the punches and very affordable. This is a great place to bide your time while waiting for dinner upstairs. The ambience is great and enough can't be said about it; you really need to see the pictures. It's a traditional dimly lit bar where everybody at the bar will be friends within an hour. The service is a bit slow. Not because the staff is busy keeping up with the volume but because they frequently step back to watch the crowd and fail to notice that a number of people in the bar don't have drinks. It's not a major issue if you're not in a hurry but such a small, intimate atmosphere shouldn't really require flagging down a bartender. read more

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Absolutely love it. The vibe, the people, the punches. Oh my there are no words to explain, how good it is. May be I am hyping it up, may be I am not. This is located at the same complex as the Dahlia hall on 18th, but you have literally go down, into the basement to experience the Punch House. You walk in, you hear the music somewhat going to mainstream nowadays: Disco/Tech house. It is loud enough that if you want to dance by your self, no body would bats an eye, yet quiet enough you can actually hold a meaningful conversation. It usually packed with local Pilseners and occasionally other aliens from various other neighbourhoods. Ok the Bartenders can be dicks sometimes as they may not catch you that you were waiting for your order to be taken. I'll let it pass as the drinks compensate for that sort of behaviour. The drinks come in many sizes and shapes. You actually go all out to get he Punch Bowl, but reserved that for another occasion. The small drink cost around $8 bucks. It is full of flavour and most importantly very alcoholic :) If you are in Pilsen area make sure you check em out. read more

Punch House - The bar - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a really great time here. The drinks are delicious, the vibe is super grandmas basement and cute, the bathrooms are clean, the bartenders are super super nice , and the snacks we got were also great. I live on the north side and would make the trek to pilsen to go back because we had such a good time! Shoutout to Aaron our bartender, super chill dude. The only negative and I won't even take a star off because my eyes are bad lol but it's DAAAAAARK. I was embarrassed that i couldn't read the menu without my phone light. read more

Really dug this place... Went on a weekday night around 10-11 it was busy but not packed however I bet this place get nuts to butts on weekends. Ordered a few different of their cocktails and was pleasantly surprised nothing was overly sweet and all were well crafted. Staff was super helpful...would definitely recommend. !!! read more

We stopped here on a Friday night for a drink. What a cute, unique place. The Punch House is located downstairs and it was pretty crowded. the DJ was very good! He played a nice mix of songs. It took us awhile to get drinks, but we were able to get a little couch to sit on and relax. The drinks are pretty pricey but it's strong. read more

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I hope they train their staff more when it comes to customer staff relations. I saw my friend get singled out in a group of people who were enjoying their time. The manager said she could have no more to drink when she was the least drunk of my friends. She said sje couldnt have a drink. After that the server said they didnt know why we were being kicked our. The server apologized but could not come up with a reason for her ejection. It's funny how she was the only hispanic woman who they chose to single out in a group of white people and three Black people. I would say that this is discriminatory practice and I will never return to this establishment and let all my friends knows. Sadly I used to plug this place all the time; however those days are done. read more

I've had this place bookmarked for a while and I left a bit disappointed. As soon as you walk downstairs, it's like you're transported back to the 80s. Dark paneling, booth semi circle booth seating, huge aquarium over the bar, etc. I tried a couple of the drinks. I've never had whey with alcohol before so it was an interesting taste. Also, it can be incredibly loud and tight. Maybe I'm better off trying the food upstairs. read more

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Punch House. I typically like to come here when there is a DJ playing, which seems to be quite often. They have different DJ's though and each one plays a different kind of music. They all tend to play music suitable for drinking though, and I am very appreciative of that. The drinks are amazing. I've tried quite a few punches off the menu already and the lobster dip is to die for! I celebrated my bday here a few months ago and couldn't have asked for a better night. read more

Punch House - Punch! Forgot which one this was. - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very cool basement bar! Nice for groups. Some of the food from upstairs (Dusek's) can be served downstairs. The fondue was delicious and comes in a large portion. The crab dip was very good! We ordered tons of wine and a punch sno kone and it was all very affordable. Will definitely come back. read more

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The ambiance of this bar is actually very cool. Nice and dark with eclectic decor plus a great cocktail menu. Even have a few $3 beer selections. It's a convenient pitstop if you're going to Thalia Hall for a show. However, with that being said, here's a word of caution. I went there before a show a few months back and got two of these $3 beers. My total was $6 and I paid cash tip. Two days later I looked at my bank statement and discovered charges exceeding $30. I called up the Punch House and spoke to the manager and she informed me that there was a $25 tip added on my credit card. So what what would you think? She defended her workers saying that it was probably accidental and not malicious but I wasn't convinced. Basically, someone that worked there committed credit card fraud, tried to rob me and I was pissed. They refunded me the money but still... Shady business...Be wary... read more

Punch House is the perfect spot on the south side for relaxing, chilling, and having fantastic drinks with chill ambience. Here with a group of four and loving it. If you're in the Pilsen, Little Italy, UIC area of Chicago...this is a perfect nighttime spot. read more

Punch House - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dark, sexy and yet also like your grandparents' basement. We were waiting for a table upstairs at Dusek's so we killed time with a great American pastime: alcohol. The Punch House has to stand by its name, so I ordered some. I got the Space Juice and enjoyed it immensely. (Tequila, aperol, pepper, and sparkling wine, plus a bunch of other stuff.) I saw beef fat fries the second I walked in and ordered them immediately, along with the pickle jar and the stuffed pretzel. The fries were the clear winner (you're welcome, friends). Them pickles ain't bad either. The pretzel aight, but the horseradish in that mustard sauce was WOAHSLOWDOWN. A man in my party had the Fish House drank, so that was my second round. (We had time to kill!) I love a spicy cocktail. This wasn't really as spicy as I like, but it ain't stopping me from a 5 star review. Two others got the Not Hemingway, which wasn't really outstanding. I prefer a frothy, egg-white daiquiri. And yeah, a little sweeter. WHAT OF IT? Even better, we played several rounds of the game HeadsUp on my phone while we waited, and no one complained about us. That makes this a winning location. read more

Punch House - Chalk in the bathroom. Two ghosts = "boo boo." - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The pretentiousness is palpable, almost suffocating. On top of that, when it's busy, there's barely any room to move, let alone breathe (remember, pretentiousness). Cool once in a while, I guess. read more

stumbled on this place and absolutely loved the vibe of this place. very intimate place to come with a loved one. will be back next time we are in chicago! read more

Came to the Punch House after dinner at Dusek's, came on a Friday night after dinner (at around 8pm?) so it wasn't too packed yet, but by 12 am when we were leaving there were people packed around the bar and not enough seats with people standing around. The seating is first come first serve, so if you want to sit it's probably likely that it might be full considering the day we went was snowing and horrendously cold too. The decor is really rustic feeling and feels intimate despite the bar actually having a very large space. The cocktails were good, I got the From Chile, With Love in a carafe - maybe not too strong, but tasted good and that's what cocktails are for right? They offer cocktails in just a cup, carafe and bowl option so if you're planning on sitting a while and drinking it's nice to have those options. The two other cocktails were pleasant as well, one was grapefruit based with rum and the other was gin based with a club soda (none of these are on the online menu right now so I completely forgot what they were called) The bar gets quite loud so it was a double edge sword as it was okay that we were (almost) shouting and getting excited with exclamations, but at the same time I almost had to be shouting to be heard. I'm sure that if we had a smaller party it would've been easier to hear, but the 6 person table is quite large so we were shouting and contributing to the noise, but overall a good experience with our waiter being extremely attentive and our water was never empty! read more

I went here Valentines Day with my mom. For reference shes in her early 50s and I'm in my mid 30s. This is a great place for all ages, for friends, a date, or whatever group. We had the roasted cauliflower dish, the beef fat frites, mocha creme brulee and double cheeseburger. The roasted cauliflower was the BEST cauliflower I've ever had. It was charred to beautiful perfection and had a lovely mix of Umani, savory and sweet (it had pomegranates). The beef fat frites are amazing. I always get two orders of these when I come here. Seriously please bury me in the fries when I die. They are fried to perfection with just the right amount of salt and crunch. The cheeseburger was cooked to perfection. The bread was delightfully soft and buttery and the meat was a gorgeous medium rare and very flavorful. The dessert was a literal work of art. Almost too stunning to eat. The sunchoke ice cream was some of the best ice cream I've had lately. Very complex flavor notes that married well together and excellent pairing of textures. I can't remember which drinks we had but they were strong, beautifully presented and had amazing flavor combos. Service is always excellent here. I've been here 5x now so id obviously come again. I think the total for 4 drinks and 4 food items was about $90. Overall a great place to spend an evening read more